Wilson calls Emanuel to apologize

Rep. Joe Wilson called the White House after the speech to apologize to chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel for yelling "You lie!" at President Obama, POLITICO's Jonathan Martin reports.

The personal apology comes in tandem with an abject statement that Wilson "let my emotions get the best of me" and that his "comments were inappropriate and regrettable." He said that he continues to believe illegal immigrants will be covered by health care legislation, though a House bill explicitly excludes them.

Republicans Lindsey Graham and John McCain, as well as a host of Democrats, sharply criticized Wilson's outburst.